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This is a list of U.S. universities and colleges that have won the most team sport national championships that have been bestowed for the highest level of collegiate athletic competition, be that at either the varsity or club level, as determined by the governing organization of each sport.
Contents
Scope of the list
While many collegiate sports championships in the United States are now sponsored by the NCAA, historically this was not the case, and many championships were organized for decades without NCAA sponsorship. This list includes both (i) NCAA championships and (ii) titles won in competitions organized by bodies other than the NCAA.
The column in the list below that sets forth NCAA championships includes all non-football titles won at the highest level organized by the NCAA (Division I/Collegiate), as of July 1, 2016, for sports years through that date and with updated results for subsequent sports year(s). (In accordance with the NCAA's own records, this column includes certain "unofficial" NCAA championships won during years the NCAA did not calculate winning team scores – boxing from 1932 through 1947, track and field from 1925–27 and wrestling in 1928 and 1931–33.) Other championships are set forth in other columns. For example, women's sports were solely organized by the AIAW rather than the NCAA prior to the 1981–82 year of dual championships, and these titles are included in their own separate column. Notably, the championship in the highest level of NCAA football (FBS) to date is still not sponsored by the NCAA ("Recognized Football Titles" column), nor has the oldest organized intercollegiate competition, men's rowing, ever been subject to NCAA control (included in the "Other Team Titles" column).
"Other Team Titles" column
The "Other Team Titles" column includes championships won by schools in one of the 27 sports that are (or were) sponsored by the NCAA or AIAW, during years competitive championships were organized by other bodies. These 27 sports are: women's badminton; baseball; basketball; women's bowling; boxing; cross country; fencing; field hockey; golf; gymnastics; ice hockey; lacrosse; indoor rifle; outdoor rifle; women's rowing; skiing; soccer; softball; swimming; women's synchronized swimming; tennis; indoor track; outdoor track; men's trampoline; volleyball; women's beach volleyball, water polo; and wrestling. Finally, the "Other Team Titles" column also includes championships won in two other sports: men's rowing (1871–present), which has voluntarily remained outside NCAA sponsorship, and an NCAA "emerging sport" that organizes championships, women's equestrian (2002–present).
As more specifically detailed on the table of sports, below, the "Other Team Titles" column includes: (i) historic non-NCAA tournament titles compiled here, (ii) non-AIAW women's championships listed here, (iii) overall women's equestrian championships, (iv) gold medal lacrosse teams listed here and Wingate lacrosse championships, (v) pre-NCAA golf championships; (vi) pre-NCAA swimming championships; and (vii) ISFA soccer championships.
It does not include Helms Athletic Foundation or Premo-Porretta Power Poll selections, which were awarded retroactively.